Fancy working in Russia? If this story in the Sunday Times is anything to go by, perhaps not.
According to Mark Franchetti, the Sunday Times' man in Moscow, Russian employers are increasingly using the so-called "stressovoye" — stressful interview — to help them hire the best staff. Interviewers shout at applicants, throw water over them, insult them and ask intimate personal questions.
Elena Agoshina, a 32-year-old personal assistant, stormed out of a job interview at a Moscow headhunting firm when the female recruiter first congratulated her on her successful interview, then said there was one small formality: her future boss liked Scandinavian-looking women and "before you get the job we'll have to colour your hair and improve your nose and lips with a bit of plastic surgery. But don't worry we'll pay for everything".
"At that point I was so angry and humiliated that I stormed out. Obviously I didn't pass the test because they never called again," Agoshina said.
Recruiters claim unconventional methods help them to assess potential staff more accurately. Throwing a glass of water in someone's face is said to be especially revealing: the interviewee is considered to have strength of character and leadership qualities if they react aggressively.
If the humiliation fails to provoke a reaction, the candidate is seen as ideal for a boss seeking a submissive deputy with little ambition who will pose no threat.
"It's a very effective method because it really does reveal someone's true character," said Natalya Kondratyeva, of ABC Consulting.
Sunday Times | If you survive the interview, you get the job